"Sigma-aldrich-millipore.... so on and so forth has not a concern at all for the needs of their customers. If you work in a research lab at a university, you can buy from these guys or from Fisher, those are your only options. As noted in another post they give excuses for why they can not deliver products in a timely manner, quality assurance (QA), it is always someone else's fault they can not deliver the product. If it was in stock when you ordered, it must be a lag in the update time on the computer. If they don't meet a specified delivery time, it must be the manufacturers fault the product did not meet their tight quality standard, there seems to be no accountability or concern for anyone other that themselves. This monopolization of research resources is ridiculous. If you have the option to buy products from another supplier, please, please do... maybe if they start losing business they will pay attention."
"I oversee the research lab activities at small university. Recent hike of research chemicals and reagents is atrocious. I liked Sigma, less liked Sigma-Aldrich, and now I worry Sigma-Aldrich-Millipore keep raising the price to monopolizing the market. Two weeks ago, I ordered an reagent priced $775 per bottle at the time of ordering. They are holding shipping for two weeks and raised the price to $800. When I talked to the customer service, he said for QA control testing. Well, I am not an economist but know a company need to check stocks when raising price to keep the inventory. This delay caused the problem in assay in the lab, and I had to order a small quantity from another vender with an expedited shipping. I hope small conscientious vendors keep the price reasonable, and consumers, we have to be conscientious about using the public fund. Thanks for reading."
"Back in college I didn't like this company much because the pricing seemed high, but recently I had to order something in a hurry and these people not only pulled through for me in a hurry, but it was better quality and better pricing than anyone I had on my vendor list already.
Their web site is fair (be careful to review the cart) and they do require somelengthy set-up for your account... but they are well worth it(!) "